Technology has evolved to the point where even furniture is expected to have multimedia features. Multimedia tables are becoming increasingly popular, but most options cost quite high. However, DIYer Steve Gibbs has changed the perception by building an interactive smart table – which usually costs between £6,000 (approx. $7,860) and £8,000 (approx. $10,480) – for under £500 ($650). He minimized the construction cost of the DIY interactive multimedia coffee table by repurposing old items and sourcing materials from freebie websites.
He got into the project while redecorating his flat, aiming to replace his existing coffee table. The new table measures 108cm (42.52 inches) long, 65cm (25.59 inches) wide, and 46cm (18.1 inches) high closely matching the height of the sofas in his home. Gibbs used reclaimed wood from a storage unit for the project along with a 13-inch laptop, a soundbar, and a Fire table all of which were getting dusted in corners of his home and office.
The only things he bought were the touchscreen overlay frame, a 40-inch smart TV, a 5mm clear Perspex sheet with a light grey tint and polished edges, and a 16GB RAM module to upgrade the 8GB RAM laptop to run all of the software smoothly.
The DIY project starts with building the tabletop tray as it decides the actual size of the table. Apart from making space for the TV, it also includes a mounting bracket for the Fire tablet and tablet holder stand as well as soundbar housing. Next, Gibbs made the table frame using wooden slats and added a lower shelf and drawer runners that also helped in tilting the tabletop.
After painting the table in the desired color, he started assembling the table, which included placing the TV into the tray and connecting it to the laptop. He also made space for HDMI, power and other cables. The final task was to fit the touchscreen overlay frame along with the acrylic sheet for protection.
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This DIY interactive multimedia coffee table offers all of the functionality of the TV such as streaming services, and the available apps, and can also hook up an aerial, cable, or satellite receiver. Interestingly, the tabletop can also be tilted for a better view. It also offers some virtual tablecloths that are cast to the big screen from the Fire tablet instead of the laptop so that the touchscreen is not triggered when you place plates and cups on it.
The smart table runs on Windows 11 Pro, a free Android emulator from Bluestacks (AKA MSI App Player App), and a secondary Android OS, which is used for non-touchscreen, and an Amazon Fire tablet used as a wireless trackpad, mouse, and keyboard.
At the core of this DIY multimedia coffee table is a large interactive touchscreen display that allows users to browse the internet, watch videos, play games, and even control smart home devices. For those interested in building an interactive multimedia coffee table, you can check out the detailed guide on Instructables.
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